Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in Neural and Cardiac Tissues of Wild Rodents in Lithuania

<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, a widespread parasite, poses significant public health concerns. It infects humans and animals, with rodents serving as important intermediate hosts. The present study investigated the prevalence and genetic <i>ITS1</i> diversity of <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> in wild rodents from Lithuania. A total of 469 rodents from eight species were captured across various regions, and DNA from neural and cardiac tissues was analyzed using nested PCR. Overall prevalence of <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> was 26.2% (95% CI = 22.3-30.5). The prevalence of infection varied among rodent species (0-50.0%) and across geographic locations. A mere few rodents exhibited concurrent infections in both tissues examined. <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> was detected more frequently in the brains of <i>Apodemus flavicollis</i> and hearts of <i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>, and in the males of <i>Microtus arvalis</i>. A total of 19 distinct <i>ITS1</i> genotypes were identified, including 17 novel ones; Genotype 1 was the most prevalent and widely distributed. Phylogenetic and network analyses revealed a star-like topology centered on Genotype 1 and confirmed the accurate identification of <i>T. gondii</i> in Lithuanian rodents. This study provides the first evidence of <i>T. gondii</i> in wild rodents in Lithuania, highlighting the need for further research on its prevalence and potential impact on public health and wildlife.